Sue Caulfield, Metro Rod

Many entrepreneurs have to overcome adversity. Sue’s certainly taken on a lot more than her fair share in order to be where she is today.

Metro RodSue started the business with her husband in 1999 after returning to the UK from Germany, where she lived for seven years. Everything went well from the outset; they hired their first employee within the year and sustained, consistent growth led to the couple taking on a second territory in 2002. Over the next six years it developed into a strong, multi-van business with several employees.

But in 2008 Sue developed severe emphysema; entering hospital on Mother’s Day 2009, she underwent a double lung transplant and spent nearly five months in ICU. On her return she could barely walk from the house to the garden office.

When they divorced shortly after, the couple split the territories, forcing Sue on a steep learning curve to reorganise, restructure and learn all aspects of operations to run the business on her own.

Despite these challenges, Sue’s business has grown every year, including by almost 20% in the last year. She now employs nine staff with six vans, and has a projected turnover of nearly three-quarters-of-a-million pounds this year thanks to an incredible dedication and drive. “I’m blowed if I’m going to sit back and say ‘poor me’,” she says.

Over the next five to 10 years, Sue plans to have her daughter and son-in-law take an increasing role in the business as she steps back. After all, nobody can say she hasn’t earned the right to take things a little easier in the future!